Our packaging unwrapped

The perfect packaging does not exist. That is something we know. But we can give great consideration to which tubes, bottles or jars we use. We question, inspect and weigh up the options. Only then do we make a decision. And this is the way it has always been. We know from experience that no material is hands-down better or worse than another. As such, we always choose the packaging material based on the same criteria: product protection, material savings, recyclability and recycled content.

Protecting products, avoiding waste

In creating the formulations for Dr. Hauschka Skin Care products, we draw on the wealth of the natural world. We invest huge amounts worldwide in the organic and Demeter farming of our raw materials and the manufacture of our products. We have to make sure that the valuable content does not perish prematurely due to unsuitable packaging and end up in the bin. After all, we regard product protection as key to resource protection – and therefore also to environmental protection. In addition, our 100% genuine natural cosmetics do not contain any synthetic preservatives. This makes preserving the product’s shelf life and freshness the packaging’s most important task. Every time we develop a new product, we check which packaging is most eco-friendly and while still providing full product protection. We actually also strive to reduce material consumption along the entire process chain – from the design stage through the development stage, to delivery and disposal.

Increasing recyclability and recycled content

The resources for glass, aluminium and conventional plastic are not infinite. We are therefore very careful to ensure that materials can be reused. For this to be possible, the materials must enter the recycling cycle in as pure a form as possible. Only then can they be used to create new, high-quality packagings. We support this by paying greater attention to the design of our packaging and advertising materials. By using waste paper or post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics, we reduce the need for raw materials and actively protect the environment. This is because recycling reduces the energyintensive and polluting processes of sourcing and producing raw materials. We strive to constantly reduce the amount of material we use while also increasing the recyclability. We want to replace materials made from new raw materials with recycled ones.

Our packaging materials: glass, aluminium and plastic

It takes a lot of energy to produce and transport glass, but it can be completely recycled. It also has excellent barrier properties: it neither releases any substances into the product nor allows anything in from the outside. We package liquid and oily products in glass bottles. These come with pumps, atomisers or pipettes to enable the products to be dispensed in a userfriendly and hygienic manner. As our natural cosmetics do not contain any synthetic preservatives, we do not use glass pots e.g. for our day creams, because the risk of contamination is very high by using fingers for application. Similarly to glass, aluminium is good recyclable but takes a lot of energy to manufacture. But it provides the best product protection and acts as a reliable barrier to light, water vapour and air. Aluminium tubes are the packaging of choice for our sensitive and firmer formulations: they stay fresh for longer and almost every last bit can be squeezed out. The insides of our aluminium tubes are coated with a harmless protective lacquer to prevent any direct contact between the product and the aluminium.

During production, plastic has less of a climate impact than either aluminium or glass. As such, we do not want to condemn it entirely. Our plastic packaging does not contain plasticisers such as phthalates, BPA or similar problematic additives. Thanks to new developments plastic also provides good product protection with ever lower material usage. We mainly use PE and PP, which are energyefficient and easily recyclable plastic materials. Where possible, we use recycled plastic with a recycled content of up to 97%.

Bioplastics – a blessing or a curse?

Bioplastics do not offer everything their name promises. Often, bioplastics made from renewable raw materials are no more sustainable than plastics made from mineral oil. We only consider using bioplastics if they offer a better eco-balance than conventional plastics. At the moment, we do not use any bioplastics which are also biodegradable. This is because many countries (including Germany) do not yet have recycling systems for them. If they are not properly disposed of, they simply add to the micro-plastic problem. Nevertheless, we are keeping a close eye on developments in this area.

Boxes – additional protection for packaging

Boxes are more than just a means of communication – they prevent damage for example to glass bottles and aluminium tubes during transportation and storage and while on display in retail outlets. In the case of plastic tubes, we are increasingly doing away with the boxes when possible. Furthermore, we only print with mineral-oil-free ink made from sustainable raw materials.